П о я с н ю в а л ь н а з а п и с к а

THE STORY
Long, long ago there lived a king of the Danes named Hrothgar. He had won many battles and gained great wealth.
Once he decided to build a large palace where he could feast with his kinsmen and warriors. When the gold-roofed hall was built, it was so beautiful that all the people around could not tear their eyes off it. In this marvellous hall Hrothgar presented costly gifts to his warriors and gave splendid banquets.
The palace was called Heorot because it was decorated with antlers of stags (deer).
The joy of the king, however, didn't last long. In the dark fens "ear by there lived a fierce sea-monster, the "grim and greedy" Grendel, who got madly envious of the festive noise and wanted to destroy Heorot.
Bore it bitterly he who bided in darkness That light-hearted laughter loud in the building Greeted him daily.
Grendel looked like a man but was much bigger, and his whole body was covered with long hair, so thick and tough that no weapon could harm him.
One night when the warriors in Heorot were fast asleep after their feast, Grendel rushed in, seized thirty men and devoured them. The next night the monster appeared again. The men defended themselves bravely, but their swords could not even hurt the monster.
From that time no one dared to come to Heorot For twelve years the palace stood deserted.
Twelve-winters time torture suffered The friends of the Scyldings, Soul-crushing sorrow.
The news of the disaster reached Beowulf, nephew of Higelac, king of the Jutes.
Beowulf wag the strongest and the bravest of all the warriors. He was said to have the strength of thirty men.
As soon as he learned that the life of the Danes was in danger, he decided to help Hrothgar. With fourteen chosen companions he set sail for the country of the Danes.
Beowulf ordered Wiglaf to take as much treasure as he could carry and give it to the Jutes. In his last hour he thought only of his people, for whose happiness he had sacrificed his life.
Before burning the body of the king, Wiglaf put the blame for his death upon the cowardly earls. Here they are called "the tardy-at-battle" ("tardy" means "late", thus:-"the late-for-the battle"),
The memory of Beowulf was honoured by a memorial, a high mound visible from a great distance, so that passing seamen might constantly be reminded of his prowess.
The poem is a relic of those far-off days when people believed in gods, witches and monsters. Grendel, the water-witch, and the fire-dragon personify the evil forces of nature, too strong for the people to conquer. The desire of man to do away with them and to become master of his own destiny is expressed in the poem. Beowulf’s victory over the monsters symbolizes the triumph of man over the powers of darkness, evil, and death.
The merit of the poem lies in the vivid description of the life of that period, in the heroic deeds of Beowulf and in the beauty of the language.